Monday, September 17, 2012

Hell's Hoods: The Bull

A river of blood arises from slaughterhouse and rendering plant runoff flowing through a maze of ditches and channels. This is the Malebolge: the territory of an infernal crime family of the same name. Besides running the processing facilities for damaged souls, the Malebolge family promotes violent crimes and extortion on the Material Plane.The family’s boss is the arch-devil Moloch. Whether dressed in a butcher’s apron or a suit, he’s imposing: a hulking figure with the head of a bull. His upper body and head are skinless, and his horns and eyes are black as onyx. Smoke periodically snorts from his nostrils. His shadow is thick and the color of congealing blood.Combat: Moloch fights like a minotaur--and one of great strength. He prefers to kill foes with his hands, horns, or hooves as opposed to weapons; He particularly disdains firearms.Diabolical Abilities: Moloch’s presence can cause fear within a 20 ft. radius. He can cause pain in anyone he touches, but he only uses this to aid coercion or intimidation. Moloch has a special interest in drawing the young into the criminal life, and despite his horrific form, has an unusual affinity with adolescents.Pacts: Moloch may be summoned by burning money (taken from another) within a circle drawn in blood on the floor of a meat locker. Moloch can cause an “accident” to happen to a place of business. He knows the location of any secreted stashes of money, and where the remains of any individual murdered and hidden on the prime material plane may be found.

One of the signs of Moloch's favor are knuckle busters carved of bone as hard as steel, yet dense as lead. You should not try as used them against Moloch's chosen, as the bones in your hand will shatter like glass.